Chapter 02

A loud slam at the door jolted me back to reality.

I lowered my gaze and slipped out of my nightgown, donning the lingerie instead.

Years of illness had wasted me away, leaving the garment hanging loosely, with plenty of space to spare.

When Robert entered, he paused abruptly upon seeing me reclined on the bed in the slip dress.

My face was pale, but I managed a smile as I looked at him.

"How do I look? Pretty?"

Realizing whose lingerie I was wearing, Robert was taken aback.

"What are you doing?"

I lowered my eyes as pain coursed through my body, causing me to pinch the back of my hand until it reddened alarmingly against my pale skin.

"I just thought, if my husband likes it, why shouldn't I change for him once?"

Robert stiffened, then turned around with a trace of joy in his eyes.

"Sonia, you… You're willing to change for me?"

Before I could speak, he began to undress and leaned in to kiss me.

However, I clearly saw the disdain in his eyes as he took in my emaciated, curveless body.

I slapped him across the face, my voice turning icy in an instant.

"Robert, you are truly shameless."

Stunned by the slap, Robert realized I was mocking him and, in a fury, he threw me off the bed.

"Get out! Sonia, are you insane? Wearing Deirdre’s lingerie to humiliate yourself. Do you even see how close to death you look? Do you think I’m interested in your fragile body?"

I sat on the cold floor, every inch of me aching with both physical and psychological pain.

It hurt, but I refused to show any vulnerability in front of Robert.

"Robert, I want to ask you. What does it mean to let another woman leave her lingerie in your daughter's bedroom?"

His face visibly panicked at my words, and he struggled to respond.

"Maybe Deirdre just left it accidentally… If you saw it, why not just take it away? What’s the point of making such a fuss?"

I hung my head, tears dropping onto my hands, scalding as they fell, my heart filled with sorrow for the many years of our marriage.

Why had the man who once treasured me while I was pregnant and was full of hope for our child, become like this?

We hadn’t even argued much. We just drifted apart as if by unspoken consent.

After years of reflection, I arrived at a single conclusion.

Perhaps love was simply gone.

Even if our love had faded, I never imagined he would become so careless with our daughter. If I were to leave one day, how could I entrust Stephanie to Robert?

I looked up, tears in my eyes.

"Robert, I can forgive all your past flings, but Deirdre is absolutely off-limits!"

At this, the man burst out laughing, his eyes full of scorn.

"Sonia, I didn’t expect you to get so worked up at thirty-four, acting like a little girl over a piece of clothing."

"You don’t want me with Deirdre? Well, let me tell you. She happens to be my favorite."

With that, he angrily grabbed his coat and left the house.